E3 2013 is officially behind us, and now it’s time to sit and wait for all the amazing things that we saw over the course of the show to come to fruition. As part of spending that time waiting, we’ve decided to collect our favorite games from the show. There are five of them, and narrowing them down was tough.

Before you start yelling about Such and Such, know two things: these are our favorites from the show, and we certainly didn’t have time to see everything. E3 was absolutely packed with absurdly good gaming, so seeing everything this week would have required much more than a handful of staff and three days.

With that said, here we go.

Destiny – Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

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Of all the products on display at E3 this year, one of the most ambitious is likely Bungie’s Destiny. The first game from the studio since its departure from the Halo franchise boasts a constantly connected world where friends and strangers will play together in order to build themselves into legends.

The demo the world saw played live during Sony’s press conference on Monday night was roughly the same as the one press and convention goers caught behind closed doors during the show. What you know is what we know about this game. It’s gorgeous in motion, promises a massive environment filled with loot, epic battles, vehicles and open world events.

Bungie has always delivered exceptional experiences, and that quality has certainly earned the studio as much hype as the world is giving it for Destiny. The game floored us during Sony’s press conference, and we hope it floors us again upon release.

Plants vs Zombies – Garden Warfare – Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

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What a surprise this one was! Like I said in my eyes-on preview earlier this week, I was convinced all the marketing drum up and “leaks” from EA for this title were nothing but jokes and jabs at their own franchises. Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare, it turned out, is a totally real thing… and it’s awesome.

Another multiplayer game at heart, Garden Warfare, in the mode we know about, pits players (as plants) against waves of zombies. You’ll select your species and use its unique abilities to engage in tactical, squad-based combat.

As we were told again and again during our preview of the game, this one is about nothing but pure fun. So far, so good. It’s silly, it’s ridiculous, and that’s exactly what PopCap is going for.

Super Mario 3D World – Wii U

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In our top five, this one might be the most surprising to you folks. Well, perhaps right next to Garden Warfare. For my money, though, there’s not much of a finer product than a 3D Mario game, and Super Mario 3D World is the Wii U sequel to one of the Italian Plumber’s best outings in years.

Mario games might not be your cup of tea. But, for Wii U owners dying to play some quality games, seeing an entry like this is huge. A proper, 3D Mario title in HD is something a lot of Nintendo fans have been dying to see, and Super Mario 3D World answers that call.

Based entirely on the franchise’s pedigree, we’re sure this one will pack plenty of surprises and odd mechanics. Peach is playable for the first time in a standard Mario entry since the strange Super Mario Bros. 2. There’s a lot to be excited about.

Titanfall – Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC

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Speaking on a personal level, Titanfall wasn’t exactly on my radar as a must-play title before E3. This effort from Respawn Entertainment, the studio that formed out of those that left Infinity Ward a few years back, looked like Call of Duty with mechs at first blush, and it’s one I was ready to dismiss quickly.

Titanfall is a multiplayer title that pits one team of pilots and mechs against another. The game type we know about is the traditional three point capture and hold. The premise, so far, is basic. The way the game plays, though, is entirely unique.

Then I had a chance to watch a full, live match played out in front of me. The game is stunning. It’s fast, intense and aggressive, and it boasts a genuinely unique set of mechanics thanks to the interactions between pilots, mechs and their opponents.

While strictly multiplayer titles of this ilk usually don’t work their way into my gaming wheelhouse, what I saw of Titanfall almost demands my attention. I’m really excited for it.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

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As someone who attends four or five of these trade shows a year, I’m used to seeing “demos” for games that are a year or more away from release. These “demos” are normally little more than five or 10 minutes of gameplay rife with cuts and jumps. It’s to be expected that dev teams wouldn’t be ready to show off a ton of action for a game that’s certainly far from ready.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, however, rocked a full, hour long, entirely uncut gameplay session. CD Projekt RED, the developers behind the title, are kind of insane for taking this shot. But, hey, it worked. The behind-closed-doors presentation was one of the most popular in the entire show, and for good reason.

Wild Hunt will be open world. Its environment is 35 times larger than the one in The Witcher 2. It boasts choice and consequence, insanely creative monsters and next-gen graphics. The response to it from media during the show was fantastic, and it’s well deserved.

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Joey Davidson leads the gaming department here on TechnoBuffalo. He's been covering games online for more than 10 years, and he's a lover of all...Joey Davidson leads the gaming department here on TechnoBuffalo. He's been covering games online for more than 10 years, and he's a lover of all...